Like so many other mixed-martial artists, Jesse Taylor watched UFC 168's main event end in horrifying fashion Saturday.

In a freak event, Anderson Silva had been reduced to a mortal, his left leg broken by his own kick. His pained figure, sprawled on the canvas, became the lasting memory of the evening, not the successful title defense for Chris Weidman.

It was a sobering reminder that even the greatest can be shattered in an instant, that careers in this sport are especially subject to the whims of nature.

But given MMA's continuing expansion, they can also be resurrected more quickly than ever. Taylor, the Poway native who was dropped by the UFC, has learned that. Better opportunities can still arise, even for a veteran that has fought the world over.

Taylor's latest chance was confirmed earlier this month, when the former Poway High wrestler used a methodical ground-and-pound to wear down Elvis Mutapcic at WSOF 7 in Vancouver, Canada. The unanimous-decision win came after the middleweights' initial contest in September was delayed.

"The anticipation was crazy because I had a very long training camp," said Taylor, who signed with the World Series of Fighting in May. "It was just good to get it over with. I was just happy to fight."

Given the result, the wait was worth it. Taylor's victory earned him a bout with David Branch for the WSOF's inaugural middleweight title, likely to be held in March. Indeed, two fights into his contract, Taylor could be a belt holder.

Such a title would hold special meaning, even despite the WSOF's relative youth. Like others in the promotion, including several fellow ex-UFC fighters, Taylor views the WSOF as an establishment with real staying power. The arena may be slightly different, with fights held in a ten-sided cage instead of an octagon, but Taylor's new setting reminds him of none other than the UFC's.

"I've been very impressed," said Taylor, whose last UFC fight was a loss to C.B. Dollaway in 2008. "I've been all over the world fighting, which I truly enjoyed, but you deal with a lot of shows that aren't professional and don't treat their fighters too well. At times, I was like, What am I doing here? But I told myself it would all be worth it one day."

In the WSOF, Taylor believes he has found the beginning of the reward. The promotion has a deal with a major broadcast platform, NBC Sports Network. There are flexible fight contracts. The commissioner, Ray Sefo, is an active fighter himself.

For Taylor, it's a refreshing contrast after fighting for such promotions as the now-defunct DREAM (Japan), Maximum Fighting Championship (Canada) and Cage Warriors (England).

"They take very good care of their fighters," Taylor said of the WSOF. "The UFC has the most amount of competition. They probably do have most of the best guys, but I wouldn't necessarily say that soon. The WSOF is still building their talent pool. You have to give us a chance."

In addition to Taylor, former UFC fighters in the WSOF include Andrei Arlovski, Yushin Okami, Miguel Torres and the recently signed Rousimar Palhares. Meanwhile, there are several up-and-comers speculated to be drawing the UFC's interest.

And that, many believe, remains the end goal of the fighters in the WSOF, to either reach or return to the UFC, which still owns the largest and most established talent pool by a wide margin. While Taylor says he's open to staying with the WSOF -- "I really like how they have the tournament format for doing the champion, because there are no politics involved" -- he adds that he would have to consider an opportunity to rejoin the world's largest MMA promotion.

For now, fighting in the WSOF has moved him closer to such a possibility, and even closer to a title.

"I finally made it back to a big show," said Taylor, who has won his last seven fights and holds a career record of 27-9. "I have a humongous opportunity in front of me to win this belt, which would make me a champion and put me up there with all those upper-echelon guys. You're going to have to kill me to beat me, because this is what I've been working for my entire life."